Parliamentum inchoat' & tent' apud Civitatem Westmonaster',
Die Martis, 19 Maii, Anno Regni Domini nostri Jacobi IIdi,
Dei Gratia, Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei
Defensoris, &c. Primo, Annoque Domini 1685.
Parliament meets.
ON which Day, being the First Day of the
Meeting of this Parliament, about Seven of
the Clock in the Morning; the Right Noble
James Duke of Ormond, Lord High Steward
of his Majesty's Household, came into the Inner Court of
Wards: And there, the Clerk of the Crown presenting a
List of such Members as were returned to sit in this present Parliament; and the Clerk of the House of Commons attending, according to the Duty of his Place; his
Grace administered the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to several Members of the House of Commons;
who were afterwards deputed by his Grace to administer
the said Oaths to all Persons returned as Members to sit
in Parliament.
And a great Number of the Members being sworn;
and having taken their Places in the House;
Message to attend the King.
A Message from his Majesty was delivered by Sir
Thomas Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
The King commands this honourable House to attend
Him, immediately, in the House of Peers.
And accordingly the House went up to attend his
Majesty.
The House being returned;
Sir J. Trevor chosen Speaker.
The Right honourable Charles Earl of Midleton, One
of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, acquainted
the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to direct
them forthwith to proceed to the Choice of a Speaker:
And his Lordship proposing to the House, That Sir John
Trevor Knight, by reason of his great Integrity, Knowledge of the Laws of the Land, and of the Rules and
Orders of this House, was therefore, in his Lordship's
Judgment, a Person highly deserving, and fitly qualified
for such a Trust;
The House unanimously chose the said Sir John Trevor
for their Speaker.
And he being not permitted to excuse himself; and being conducted to the Chair, by the said Earl of Midleton,
and the honourable Henry Savill Esquire, Vicechamberlain to his Majesty, Two of the Members of the
House; he humbly desired Leave to disable himself at
the Royal Throne.
And the Lord Midleton informing the House, That his
Majesty had appointed Four of the Clock this Afternoon,
for presenting their Speaker;
The House adjourned to Four of the Clock in
the Afternoon.
Post Meridiem.
THE House being met;
Message to attend the King.
A Message from the King was delivered by Sir Thomas
Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
The King commands this honourable House to attend
Him, immediately, in the House of Peers.
Choice of Speaker approved.
And accordingly Mr. Speaker elect, with the House,
went up to attend his Majesty: And humbly represented
to his Majesty, That the House of Commons had chosen
him their Speaker: And he made Claim by humble Petition, in the Name of the Commons of England, in Parliament assembled, of the ancient Rights of the Commons, for them, and their Servants, in their Persons and
Estates, to be free from Arrests, and other Disturbances;
in all their Debates to have Freedom and Liberty of
Speech; and, as Occasion shall require, to have Access
to his Majesty's Royal Person.
Which was allowed by the King.
The House being returned; and Mr. Speaker having
taken the Chair, and made a gratulatory Speech to the
House;
Members take Oaths.
An Act, made in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of his
late Majesty Charles the Second, intituled, An Act for the
more effectual preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists to sit in either House of Parliament, was read, in order to the Taking of the Oaths,
and subscribing the Declaration therein mentioned.
And the Time of the Day for doing thereof being
elapsed;
The House, upon a Question put,
Adjourned to Nine of the Clock To-morrow Morning.